There is a lot of controversy at present because the BBC propose to put £150m into content development with free access for schools. The traditional suppliers such as RM are squealing because they believe it will damage their business. Isn't this another side to the free software argument? Shouldn't the BBC make the content available under the GPL and then others could use it and develop additional resources all free? The main argument of RM et al seems to be that it will kill development because the commercial developers will not be able to compete. Since the same money will be available I don't think that argument holds water since the BBC can't cover every single aspect of education. I see this initiative as potentially complementary to free software, especially if we could persuade the BBC to release its content under the GPL - after all, its our license fees paying for it. Regards, -- IanL
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There is a lot of controversy at present because the BBC propose to put _150m into content development with free access for schools. The traditional
Certainly not free of charge though, since just about every school has (or should have) a TV licence.
suppliers such as RM are squealing because they believe it will damage their business. Isn't this another side to the free software argument? Shouldn't
Maybe instead the BBC should supply content entitled "Free Market 101" and send complementry copies to RM
the BBC make the content available under the GPL and then others could use it and develop additional resources all free? The main argument of RM et al seems to be that it will kill development because the commercial developers will not be able to compete. Since the same money will be available I don't
Then they'll have to sell a product they can make money on. Commercial enterprises do not have a god given right to make a profit at all.
think that argument holds water since the BBC can't cover every single aspect of education. I see this initiative as potentially complementary to free software, especially if we could persuade the BBC to release its content under the GPL - after all, its our license fees paying for it.
On Thu, 16 May 2002, Ian Lynch wrote:
There is a lot of controversy at present because the BBC propose to put £150m into content development with free access for schools.
The mani problem I see is that the BBC will probably only produce material that will run in IE under Windows, it will use ActiveX and Flash 7 and similar things, so we won't be able to use it. -- Christopher Dawkins, Felsted School, Dunmow, Essex CM6 3JG 01371-822698, mobile 07816 821659 cchd@felsted.essex.sch.uk
On Thu, May 16, 2002 at 10:22:23AM +0100, Ian wrote:
There is a lot of controversy at present because the BBC propose to put £150m into content development with free access for schools. The traditional suppliers such as RM are squealing because they believe it will damage their business. Isn't this another side to the free software argument? Shouldn't the BBC make the content available under the GPL and then others could use it and develop additional resources all free? The main argument of RM et al seems to be that it will kill development because the commercial developers will not be able to compete. Since the same money will be available I don't think that argument holds water since the BBC can't cover every single aspect of education. I see this initiative as potentially complementary to free software, especially if we could persuade the BBC to release its content under the GPL - after all, its our license fees paying for it.
If it's content then the BBC may have their hands tied by various copyright agreements with third parties, agreements with actors etc. so they can't GPL it or release it into the public domain or whatever. I know they make available for download some radio programmes but only those where they don't have these problems. RM for my money can get stuffed. The BBC has a remit in law to educate and entertain & how they go about it and whether it has any commercial impact on RM isn't their problem. RM will have to try and pick up profits in some other field other than education. Anyway, I thought RMs primary business was to sell rotten software to schools? This seems more like content than software as such. BTW, any links regards this BBC development? Regards, -- Frank *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Boroughbridge. Tel: 01423 323019 --------- PGP keyID: 0xC0B341A3 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* http://www.esperance-linux.co.uk/ "What do you do when your real life exceeds your wildest fantasies?" "You keep it to yourself." -- Broadcast News
On Thu, May 16, 2002 at 10:25:36AM +0100, Christopher wrote:
On Thu, 16 May 2002, Ian Lynch wrote:
There is a lot of controversy at present because the BBC propose to put £150m into content development with free access for schools.
The mani problem I see is that the BBC will probably only produce material that will run in IE under Windows, it will use ActiveX and Flash 7 and similar things, so we won't be able to use it.
All the BBC sites that I have come across seem to run on Solaris which suggests some hope on this front and I've always found their sites to be OK on Linux/BSD. We just have to stay vigilant & moan if Flash and other such garbage starts making a regular appearance. I can't imagine they'll migrate to IIS in any kind of hurry, although stranger things have happened. -- Frank *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Boroughbridge. Tel: 01423 323019 --------- PGP keyID: 0xC0B341A3 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* http://www.esperance-linux.co.uk/ Time goes, you say? Ah no! Time stays, *we* go. -- Austin Dobson
Are the BBC allowed to charge for material such as this? I thought it was
not allowed to develop commercially.
I am sure the commercial arm of the BBC is called BEEB.
Maybe wrong, but something stirs in the back of my head!
Regards
Gareth Edmondson
ICT Teacher
Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr
----- Original Message -----
From: Frank Shute
On Thu, May 16, 2002 at 10:25:36AM +0100, Christopher wrote:
On Thu, 16 May 2002, Ian Lynch wrote:
There is a lot of controversy at present because the BBC propose to put £150m into content development with free access for schools.
The mani problem I see is that the BBC will probably only produce material that will run in IE under Windows, it will use ActiveX and Flash 7 and similar things, so we won't be able to use it.
All the BBC sites that I have come across seem to run on Solaris which suggests some hope on this front and I've always found their sites to be OK on Linux/BSD. We just have to stay vigilant & moan if Flash and other such garbage starts making a regular appearance. I can't imagine they'll migrate to IIS in any kind of hurry, although stranger things have happened.
--
Frank
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Boroughbridge. Tel: 01423 323019 --------- PGP keyID: 0xC0B341A3 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
http://www.esperance-linux.co.uk/
Time goes, you say? Ah no! Time stays, *we* go. -- Austin Dobson
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participants (5)
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Christopher Dawkins -
Frank Shute -
Gareth Edmondson -
Ian Lynch -
Mark Evans